Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-12
THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN TEXAS.

THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN TEXAS.
Dallas News (anti) The political sit
uation with regard to state prohibition
and the Democratic party is one which
demands thoughtful consideration. 1t is
shown by the election returns that in
many counties known to give Democratic
mojorities at every election where the
Democratic party enters the tield-and
this election has been exceptional as TO
the psrty's plurslitY-the prohibition
amendment received about hall the voting
strength Of the Democratic party more or
less. Now the question will arise what
the Democratic party is to agree upon. II
Democratic Prohibition1Sts are satisfied
vita the decision Just arrived at the
matter is settled. If they are not salts
fed, but intend 10 seek the control Of the
legislature for the purpose of again sub
hitting the amendment, the party will
have to face q serious issue. II may be
inferred that as some are Prohibidonists
first End Democrats afterWard, others are
anti -Prohbitionists first and last if
forced to choice. VIII there be con
servative Democratic body strong enough
to prevent either secret Or open contests
within the party sufficient 10 rupture lis
ORGANIZATION or to throw It
into the hands Of those
known rs snti Prohibiticnis The News
has never been the advocate OF mere me-
chanical harmony. In This there can be
no good faith and seldom much utility.
! Whether real agreement among Demo-
Gratis is henceforth possible is to be
learned by observation after the situation
! is care fnlly studied, not merely by the OBJ
servers, but by the people who adhere to
! the party and desire to continue it. There
may be some irreconcilsble differences OF
conviction which will remodel parties
No discussion of suppressing serious con-
victions of political right is here thought
Of. But there msy be other Influences
! The party has not been officially con-
cerned in the election. The News has
held that the anti Pfohibitiorists have
better represented the basic principle OF
! Democracy than the Prohioitionists. 1t
| is possible that the ProhibitiCnists may
widen the breach by further separate
organic alton and determination to take
all that they can get in the Democratic
party snd cOncede nothing, and by virtu-
silly acting as separate party St the same
time, being ready TO tiJ { # if not allowed
to have their own way; but this IS no
proved. They have exercised their inds
pendence where it WIS., not contrary Il
the party's official GeclsratiOus in thit
stste. Trouble may arise over an 81
tempt by -proai0itioTists to commi
the party sgaiUst State prohibition
Among the possibilities are thu.
Of the prohibition Democrats acting
in dual sense, retaining 2 sort OF I'm
Outstanding in lieu Of a formal party or
ganiz.tion separate from other Demo
Gratis. Political ambition is another pos
slb;Iity by which anti prohibition prin
cipIe, perfectly sincere snd honorable il
Itself, msy be put forth IS the forma
reason c. preteXt for ostrscising prohiOi
ton Democrats. This would be a Caus
of finally disrupting the party if number
are not very unevenly divided. For tn
nti-Prohibitionist to contend against
resubmission of the amendment is hon
est politics, but for the snti-prohibi
. ton Democratic leaders to os
| tracise prohibition Democrats seek
| ing any public position not re
, lated to that question would be smbi
tious politics. The News wishes to be c
. Use to both leaders and followers to brin
, Before them the conditions upon whic
they must exercise their judgment an